Collection item
Black Magic evening gown
This 'Black Magic' win predates New Zealand’s yachting success by more than 10 years. It earned designer Jane Mabee a coveted Benson & Hedges Fashion Design Award for the best garment in the After-Five section in 1984, the same year that Konstantina Moutos won the Supreme Award for the first time. The audacious design perfectly encapsulates the flamboyant excess of the 1980s with its sumptuous skirts, revealing bodice and vibrant colour accent. Award success ensured name recognition, which in turn directed custom to Jane’s Betsy Ruff Boutique at 122 Ponsonby Road, Auckland.
Details
Credit:
Garment loan courtesy of Jane Mabee
Copyright:
Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 Licence
Designer:
Jane Mabee
Garment type:
Evening dress
Material:
Silk organza, Thai silk
Colour:
Black, shocking pink
Label:
Betsy Ruff
Date:
1984
